South Sudan Civil Society Facility (CSF)

Some of the key results achieved by the project include: - A total of 64 national civil society organisationer (CSO) and four international non-governmental organisations in six regions (Aweil, Bor, Rumbek, Torit, Wau and Yambio) were supported through capacity building, grants, learning and knowledge management; - Over 600 CSO staff were trained on various topics; - 69% of the CSOs achieved capacity improvements; - after training, 16 of the supported CSOs successfully applied for fresh funding from new donors; - 21 national CSOs were selected as 'Yes We Can' grantees and received grants for capacity development and advocacy activities. - CSF training and the connections that derived from participating in activities improved the capacity of CSOs to influence decision makers; - communities that were exposed to CSF activities became better organized and increasingly able to identify and communicate their own needs and priorities; - 20 percent more community respondents received support from a CSO strengthened by the CSF as compared with baseline data; - CSOs supported by the CSF demonstrated improved organizational capacity, as regards leadership, strategic vision and direction, stewardship of resources/financial management, tracking results and learning, resilience and sustainability. The project also presented some success stories on how local civil society organisations were strengthened and empowered to make a real tramsformativ difference for the community, such as successful advocacy to banning child labour in Gbudue State and the establishment of a helpdesk on sexual and gender based violence (SGBV) in Rumbek.

The project aimsed at strengthening the capacities of civil society organisations (CSOs) in South Sudan to meet the needs and rights of their constituencies through improved modes of working, cooperation and constructive engagement with the government. The objective, as presented in theTheory of Change (ToC), was to promote inclusive and responsive decision making, leading to positive changes in the well-being of South Sudanese communities. To achieve this longterm outcome, key decision-makers need to implement policies that respond to the needs of the community and for this to happen, communities need to have an influencing power. CSF's ToC assumed that CSOs need to play an active role, engaging relevant stakeholders for the creation of constructive solutions. The project's two intermediate outcomes were: 1. Changes in knowledge, behaviour, practices, and policies from key decision-makers. 2. Individual communities and groups affected by the programme have greater capacity to act on issues that affect them.